local cartography

Nat Geo/ Trails Illustrated is now printing maps of the Beartooths..

(with both east and west-side options) 

Healthy competition for the Bozeman based Beartooth Publishing (who have crushed the regional map market the last five years).  However, Ralph's are still far-and-away my favorite.    

Ralph Saunders.  The man, the myth, the legend.

Specifically for three reason's:  the purple-dashed suggested off-trail routes, the fishery/ stocking info, and for all the spot elevations he has labeled (ie. lakes and sub-summits).   Mr. Saunders really put in his time in the field and it shows.  Forget mapmaking on the coat-tails of Google Earth (and including breweries in the key) if you reallly want to reference the best routes, go with a Rocky Mountain Survey option. 

found a new cave this week :)

In other news, Steamboat Geyser, YNP's biggest geyser, erupted for the first time in 8 years.  They say it sounded like a steam locomotive..

And the Gardiner RD recently worked out an easement/ access to the lower Black Canyon of the Yellowstone (up the Jardine road).  Great news for the locals, but still a grind if you are looking to walk or bike from town (she's steep).

Also, jogged over Sundance Pass yesterday, and noted that the NE couloir of Whitetail is LEAN and dirty.  With the top 50 feet appearing to be about two shoulder widths wide (and likely on the verge of alpine ice).  If you are into that sort of thing..